THE LYELL AND UPPER BULLER.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 704, 30 August 1870, Page 2

THE LYELL AND UPPER BULLER.

(FEOil OUE OWN COEKESPOIfDEXT.) August 27.

Both on the township and on the reefs, everything is very quiet, everybody is looking forward to the arrival of the machinery in port, which is daily expected by the " Mary " from Melbourne. Mr Mangle, .storekeeper at the Lyell, has taken the contract irom the Prospectors for the delivery of the same at their machine site, at the foot of Irishman's Creek. I believe it is his intention to convey it up the creek by boat, winch, if practicable, will undoubtedly be less expense than cutting a track for its going overland. It certainly is, however, to be regretted that nothing has as yet been done by the Government towards employing the small sum that has been voted for making the road up the Lytjl, which, with the uuited efforts of those immediately interested, might have done much towards making a good pack track as far as Irishman's Creek. An application for a free license at the crossing of the creek on condition that the applicant constructs a substantial bridge over the same, has been put in. Tnis will be, if granted, a saving of about eighty pounds, and under any circumstances is a work very much needed.

Of the ultimate importance of the place, however much delay there may be in the development of its resources, the rapidly progressing improvements for the accommodation of travellers up the Buller that are being made, and the amount of agricultural ground that is being cleared, for the growth of produce in the district, speaks well for the high estimation that the locality commands, as one capable of becoming a largely populated area. Among the former, Mr French, of the Ohiki, is putting up a large weatherboard house on the other side of the tributary of the Buller. At the Blackwater, another house is goinoto be put up by Mr Brandon, who has lately put a ferry on that troublesome crossing. I hear, too, that three or four miles beyond this aaain there is likely to be an accommodation house. A lease has also been taken up at the junction of the Inangahua. This, with a boat at this point, would cut off about two miles of the road to the Lyell.

Three miles beyond Christie's, Mr Matthew has made great improvements considering the short time he has taken up his lease, and he has about GOOO feet of sawn timber ready for building, besides a large extent of cleared ground for a garden. There is no doubt that, independently of the increased population drawn to the quartz reefs, the alluvial ground whicb has now been so well picked over on the banks of the river and its branches, with easy communication and cheaper provisions, will be extended, and ground will be opened up of superior richness with coarser gold, than is now found. "With the country better prospected, leads will, without doubt, be found on the hills above the immediate banks of the streams, as in other parts of the country; In favor of this belief, I may mention that there is an island up the Matalutaki, on whicb coarse gold has been found, and the same was traced to the hill some 300 feet above, from which the lower deposits had apparently been detached by a landslip.